Play the old game Blackbird. It’s simple yet advances creative thinking and is sure to promote laughter. Alter tradition a little by using a thesaurus instead of a dictionary. If you don’t know how to play, it’s easy. Each person takes a turn asking a question aloud, then opens the book at random and without looking, jabs his or her finger somewhere on the selected page. The challenge? To make that word or some part of its definition answer the question. The questions must be somewhat open-ended rather the yes/no variety. For example: Why do I have to get up so early every day? Will I become a movie animator? How does my sister always get the last cookie? What do aliens really look like?

Bently was the first to successfully photograph snowflakes. Delve into the art and science of snow in these 8 amusing ways. If you’re shut in by snow (or for any other reason) employ these cabin fever cures and toss in some brain challenges . Don’t forget to get out there and play in the snow!

This once-every-four-years day can’t go by without commemoration. Find all sorts of ways to leap. Have jumping contests. Tell tall tales. Try a leap of faith (in yourself) by attempting something entirely new.

Find out which indie comic book stores near you participates and what you need to know to celebrate. You might want to learn about the evolution of today’s comics. Click here for a brief look and here for a more extensive historical survey. Also consider creating your own comic strips or books, even stage a re-enactment of your favorite scenes in the back yard.

As The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy advises us “A towel, it says, is about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.” Potential towel-related activities include all possible reasons to get soaked, from hot tub to ocean. You might toss in towel snapping lessons for those who haven’t yet hit locker room age. Make it a cross genre celebration if you’d like. South Park’s Towelie famously reminds us “don’t forget to bring a towel.”

June 11: ET turns 30

Any ET event needs to include pizza and Reese’s Pieces. You might add in bike racing. Or set up teams that work together to turn junk into “phone home” devices.

This inventor pioneered the method necessary for the world’s first mechanical television system. Remember Paul by turning TV watching in your home into a creative act. Make up alternative prequels or sequels for your favorite programs. Talk about the motivations of characters, the trajectory of story lines, and the way real life contrasts with TV life. Write and film your show. Learn how marketers use mass media to make children into whiningly persistant consumers. Check out Center for Media Literacy and Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood for resources to help young people develop critical thinking skills related to media.

This champion of civil rights and global human rights got her start as a teacher of dance and calisthenics. Celebrate this forthright woman’s achievements by learning to make your own geeky music. Try writing new lyrics for a song you already know or learn using sheet music of your favorite theme songs. And check out the website of GeekMom’s resident songstress, Rebecca Angel.

November 9: Birthday of Carl Sagan (1934)

This famous astronomer brought his fascination down to earth for a whole generation. You might want to learn more about his childhood and check out his books. Make sure to celebrate too. In his honor you might choose to wear a turtleneck, learn to recognize a constellation, visit a public observatory or planetarium near you, take a full moon walk to enjoy your neighborhood by lunar light, or watch Wonders of the Universe.

December 16: Birthday of Arthur C. Clarke (1917)

Celebrate this and all clever sci-fi writers. Revisit your favorite sci-fi short stories or films, first looking up something about the writers’ lives to help you understand their influences. Try looking at today’s news from the perspective of time travelers from the past or future. And to help create the next generation of sci-fi writers, get your kids to predict the future.

Share with your fellow GeekMom readers what other dates we should be celebrating!